CBS Asserts Biden's Gaffes Are 'Almost Endearing' to Voters

On Wednesday's CBS This Morning, Jan Crawford played up how voters supposedly find Vice President Joe Biden's "gaffes almost endearing",
as she reported on the potential face-off between President Obama's
running mate and Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race. Crawford
played clips of Biden's most infamous gaffes, and later added that
these verbal slip-ups "may not be so funny for the leader of the free
world" [audio available here; video below].

Back in August 2012, the CBS morning newscast actually did its best to spin the Vice President's "put y'all back in chains" slam of Mitt Romney and adopted the Obama campaign's own talking points on the inflammatory line.

The correspondent led her report by noting how both Democrats "shared
the spotlight" at the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards on Tuesday
evening and "heaped on the praise" at each other. She continued by
highlighting that "in many Democratic circles, Clinton already is the de facto nominee – a super PAC supporting her and raising money – even held a rally before last night's event. She's certainly sounding like a candidate, releasing a video supporting same-sex marriage...and now, writing a book."

Crawford then summarized Biden's apparent advantages going into
hypothetical presidential bid: "Biden has spent the past four years as a
vocal advocate for the President, skewering potential rivals...and
supporting Mr. Obama's policies, a high-profile role that he will hold
through the second term." But she then outlined the drawbacks for both
liberal politicians, making a vague reference to Clinton's role in the
aftermath of the terrorist attack on the consulate in Benghazi and
playing her soundbites of the Vice President's gaffes:

JAN CRAWFORD: ...But going into 2016, they both face questions. Clinton's tenure as secretary of state would come under scrutiny,
(file video of Clinton's testimony on the Benghazi attacks before a
congressional committee) as would her health, after suffering a
concussion last year that had her briefly hospitalized. She's also
become a fixture in Washington over the past two decades, at a time when
voters are sick of insiders. Biden appeals to voters with his regular
Joe image.

BIDEN (from White House event): This is a big (expletive deleted) deal!

CRAWFORD: They have found his gaffes almost endearing.

BIDEN: I didn't know you guys were here.

CRAWFORD: But it may not be so funny for the leader of the free world.

BIDEN: Spread your legs, and you're going to be – frisked.

Near the end of her report, the CBS journalist did point out how
President Obama's declining approval ratings might have a long-term
impact if Biden or Clinton picked up the 2016 Democratic presidential
nomination: "Voters say they like President Obama, but not necessarily
the job he's doing. And a new poll that's out overnight has the
President's approval ratings now at 49 percent, with 45 percent saying
they disapprove. So, it's not at all clear whether voters are
going to want to continue that legacy by tapping one of his senior
confidantes to take his place."

The full transcript of Jan Crawford's report from Wednesday's CBS This Morning:

NORAH O'DONNELL: And former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton still won't say if she's running for president in 2016, but that hasn't stopped her supporters from showing out in force last night – also, launching a super PAC. And last night, Clinton made her first public appearance as a private citizen since stepping down as secretary of state. And she complimented another guest. She was there on stage with a potential rival, Vice President Joe Biden.

Jan Crawford is in Washington. Jan, good morning.

JAN CRAWFORD: Well good morning, Norah; good morning, Charlie. Last night was the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards. It was one of those events where, of course, the issue was an important one, but you had this underlying subplot – Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden sharing the stage – and, you know, this being Washington, stirring a lot of talk about what it could mean for 2016.

CRAWFORD (voice-over): If a fight for the Democratic presidential nomination is brewing, it was hard to tell Tuesday night, as Hillary Clinton and Vice President Biden shared the spotlight and heaped on the praise.

HILLARY CLINTON, FMR. SECRETARY OF STATE: I am delighted that vice president biden will be able to join us tonight.

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: And women like – well, actually that's not an appropriate phrase. There's no woman like Hillary Clinton.

CRAWFORD: In many Democratic circles, Clinton already is the de facto nominee – a super PAC supporting her and raising money – even held a rally before last night's event. (clip of crowd chanting "Hillary Clinton") She's certainly sounding like a candidate, releasing a video supporting same-sex marriage.

CLINTON (from Human Rights Campaign video): I support it personally-

CRAWFORD: And now, writing a book. But she's been the presumptive nominee before: back in 2008. After losing to Barack Obama, she became a trusted adviser and saw her popularity grow.

CLINTON (from January 27, 2013 interview on CBS's "60 Minutes"): We have similar views. We have similar experiences.

BIDEN: Hi, Barbara. I'm Joe-

CRAWFORD: Biden has spent the past four years as a vocal advocate for the President, skewering potential rivals-

BIDEN (from campaign event): They're going put y'all back in chains.

CRAWFORD: And supporting Mr. Obama's policies, a high-profile role that he will hold through the second term. But going into 2016, they both face questions. Clinton's tenure as secretary of state would come under scrutiny, as would her health, after suffering a concussion last year that had her briefly hospitalized. She's also become a fixture in Washington over the past two decades, at a time when voters are sick of insiders. Biden appeals to voters with his regular Joe image.

BIDEN (from White House event): This is a big (expletive deleted) deal!

CRAWFORD: They have found his gaffes almost endearing.

BIDEN: I didn't know you guys were here.

CRAWFORD: But it may not be so funny for the leader of the free world.

BIDEN: Spread your legs, and you're going to be – frisked.

CRAWFORD (voice-over): Now, for both, there's also a question of age, as well as the President's approval ratings. Voters say they like President Obama, but not necessarily the job he's doing. And a new poll that's out overnight has the President's approval ratings now at 49 percent, with 45 percent saying they disapprove. So, it's not at all clear whether voters are going to want to continue that legacy by tapping one of his senior confidantes to take his place – although, Charlie and Norah, that's certainly what the Republicans are hoping for.

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